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This year's queen is Brianne Martinho, 17, from Tulare is a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her attendants are Kortnie Dias, 18, of Tulare, and a senior at El Diamante High School in Visalia; and Victoria Valadao, 17, of Hanford, and a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno during the 67th annual Our Lady of Fatima celebration in Tulare on October 5, 2014.
Michael Alvarez

This year's queen is Brianne Martinho, 17, from Tulare is a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her attendants are Kortnie Dias, 18, of Tulare, and a senior at El Diamante High School in Visalia; and Victoria Valadao, 17, of Hanford, and a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno during the 67th annual Our Lady of Fatima celebration in Tulare on October 5, 2014.
Michael Alvarez

This year's queen is Brianne Martinho, 17, from Tulare is a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her attendants are Kortnie Dias, 18, of Tulare, and a senior at El Diamante High School in Visalia; and Victoria Valadao, 17, of Hanford, and a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno during the 67th annual Our Lady of Fatima celebration in Tulare on October 5, 2014.
Michael Alvarez

This year's queen is Brianne Martinho, 17, from Tulare is a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her attendants are Kortnie Dias, 18, of Tulare, and a senior at El Diamante High School in Visalia; and Victoria Valadao, 17, of Hanford, and a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno during the 67th annual Our Lady of Fatima celebration in Tulare on October 5, 2014.
Michael Alvarez

Tulare celebrated Our Lady of Fatima on Sunday. This year’s queen is Brianne Martinho, 17, from Tulare, a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Her attendants are Kortnie Dias, 18, of Tulare, a senior at El Diamante High School in Visalia; and Victoria Valadao, 17, of Hanford, a senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno.(Photo: Michael Alvarez)

Story Highlights

"We have an open door policy. Anybody can come."

"I love hanging out with the Portuguese people."

This year's queen was Brianne Martinho, a 17-year-old senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School.

Khym Sousa showed her parade attendance savvy in selecting where to watch the parade's return portion for the Our Lady of Fatima celebration Sunday afternoon.

Sitting under shade provided by a tall sign at the Heritage Place Shopping Center, on North J Street, north of Cross Avenue, Sousa waited for the queens and their courts, the guard, and bands to return from St. Aloysius Catholic Church to the TDES Hall.

"Shade," she said. "It's also close to the hall."

Just like in real estate, location, location and location.

Sousa was among the hundreds who attended Sunday the Fatima celebration which featured music, pageantry and food.

Rick Garcia, president of the organizing committee, said the celebration helps bring the Portuguese community and highlight traditions and customs.

The Tulare celebration drew visitors from Portuguese local organizations in Visalia, Tipton, Northern and Southern California.

Frank Silva was part of a contingency of about 35, making the trip from Artesia. A frequent visitor to Tulare, Silva said she enjoys the celebration and getting to visit family.

"It makes it even greater," he said.

The Fatima celebration observes the appearances of the Virgin Mary to three children in Fatima, Portugal. According to Catholic belief, the appearances were to deliver a message from God about peace to humanity.

As part of the celebration, organizers fed those in attendance sopas, a brothy combination of chuck roast, cabbage and spices served on top of sourdough bread. It's an everybody is welcome celebration.

"We have an open door policy," Garcia said. "Anybody can come."

The celebration also included an auction, a bazaar, games and food booths. The proceeds benefited St. Aloysius School.

Sousa said the celebration helps preserve Portuguese traditions.

Garcia knows that all too well. Garcia's father was the committee president two decades ago.

"He's proud, happy I did this," Garcia said.

Tulare's Amparo Ochoa was making a returned visit to the Fatima celebration. Born in Mexico but married to a Portuguese man, Ochoa said she enjoyed the atmosphere, the music and fellowship of people from different ethnicities.

"It's beautiful," she said. "I love hanging out with the Portuguese people."

Ochoa shared servings of sopas with Silva and others from the Artesia envoy.

This year's queen was Brianne Martinho, a 17-year-old senior at San Joaquin Memorial High School. Her attendants were Kortnie Dias and Victoria Valadao.

Garcia said Martinho and her court will travel throughout the state to represent Tulare at different celebrations.

"It's a great tradition," Sousa said. "It's interesting. You learned about the old traditions."